Parents in Edinburgh have been urged to stay alert and help prevent anti-social behaviour in the run up to Halloween and Bonfire Night.
Authorities are stepping up preparations for expected disorder across the capital over the next week, after previous Bonfire Night periods saw attacks on emergency services, buses and members of the public using fireworks, petrol bombs, bricks and bottles.
Police Scotland said it is “dedicating more resource than ever before to tackle crimes involving fireworks” this year, while several major city stores have confirmed they will not sell fireworks.
Read more
- Man who gave fireworks to Bonfire Night rioters sentenced
- Edinburgh Council admits firework control zones 'arbitrary'
- Police condemn ‘unacceptable behaviour’ amid Bonfire Night disorder
And in a joint letter to all parents and guardians in Edinburgh, Police Scotland, the City of Edinburgh Council, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Lothian Buses said: “We are asking for your help to prevent this occurring again.
“In previous years we have seen firework-related anti-social behaviour (ASB) and disorder throughout communities.
“Do not allow your children or young people to be involved in or accompany anyone who is involved in anti-social behaviour or disorder.”
The authorities also urged residents to report any anti-social behaviour, illegal firework sales or unauthorised bonfires, and to help reduce risks by securing bins and disposing of rubbish responsibly ahead of Bonfire Night.
They said Lothian Buses - which saw more than a dozen of its vehicles damaged on Halloween last year - has a “zero-tolerance approach to all instances of antisocial behaviour and to ensure the safety of staff and customers will withdraw services if necessary.
“Policing of Bonfire night will be robust and we will take immediate action where individuals attempt to prevent or disrupt the work of the emergency services or bus services.
“Those who choose to get involved in antisocial behaviour or disorder on or around the 5th November may also be subject to prosecution.”
The capital witnessed shocking scenes in 2023 when a group of around 100 youths faced down riot police in Niddrie, who were targeted with fireworks and petrol bombs. The police have since charged 26 people with 51 offences including supplying fireworks to youths and inciting violence.
Incidents of disorder were repeated on Bonfire Night last year in communities including Sighthill, Moredun and Gilmerton, as well as Niddrie.
A group of youths armed with bats smashed windows of 21 cars on a Hyundai forecourt in the Calder Road area, while staff at a petrol station nearby said they had to seal off pumps to prevent an explosion as fireworks were fired into the restaurant next door.
Furthermore, perpetrators launched fireworks at an open-top bus carrying young people with disabilities outside the city’s Dynamic Earth museum near the Scottish Parliament.
Police said although there was a reduction in the number of serious order incidents across Scotland and the number of officers injured fell to one, compared with 62 in 2023, the level of violence directed towards police and other emergency services “was still of significant concern and additional resource is being provided to support local policing teams dealing with fireworks-related crime”.
The force’s annual Operation Moonbeam, aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour and keeping communities safe around Bonfire Night, started on Monday, October 27.
In addition to enhanced levels of specialist support, frontline officers in Edinburgh will be equipped with body-worn cameras so any suspects can be quickly identified.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Gold Commander for Operation Moonbeam, said: “Over 60 people have been reported for their involvement in fireworks offences over the Bonfire Night period for 2024.
"I want to make it clear our pursuit of offenders for any crimes this year will be equally unrelenting. If you chose to create fear in your community, and if you chose to attack those who are deployed to keep people safe, you will face justice.
“We will use all available technology, resources and policing tactics at our disposal to keep our people safe while they, in turn work with other emergency service partners to protect the public from harm.
“Please help us make Bonfire Night 2025 a safe event for everyone looking to enjoy it.”
Meanwhile, the council has approved ‘firework control zones’ in Niddrie, Balerno, Calton Hill and Seafield as there were last year, as well as Corstorphine, Moredun, Gracemount, Longstone and Sighthill.
During the period covered, it is a criminal offence to set off a firework in any of those areas, or to throw one into them, unless part of an officially licensed display.
However, the restrictions do not cover all of the areas in question.
On Hay Avenue in Niddrie, where fireworks were thrown at riot police two years ago, one side of the road is covered and one is not.
Captain's Road in Gracemount and Calder Road in Sighthill are also split in half by the restrictions.
In September, Edinburgh Council leader Jane Meagher said the control zones “are in a sense arbitrary”.
"But I am confident the exact arrangements that we had last year will bring about the same consequences this year, which is a safer experience for everybody,” she said.
"This year if we find there are problems in relation to the zones then we definitely would consider changing them."
Share